Combination electrical switch



June 21, 1932. E7 KAISEF; 1,864,070

COMBINATION ELECTRICAL SWITCH 'F'ild Sept. 7, 1929 4 mlm. II, (9'0: 4 e

INVENTOR Z Kaiser ATTORNEY Patented June 21, 1932 urrs EMIL KAISER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK COMBINATION ELECTRICAL SWITCH Application filed September 7, 1929. Serial No. 390,921.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical switches, and while it is of general application, it is particularly adaptable to the electrical switches of motor vehicle ignition circuits.

It is an object of the present invent-ion to provide an electric switch, the movement of which to circuit closing position, is only readily accomplishedby a series of separate operations carried out through a predetermined sequence. v

t is a further object of the invention to provide an electrical switch which is capable of adjustment for the purpose of varying either the complete sequence of operation, or any of the several steps thereof.

A further object of the invention resides in means for opening the circuit controlled by the switch by a single operation, which means is so constructed and arranged that it is ineffective to operate the switch to close the circuit controlled thereby.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of an electric switch which will be highly efficient for the purposes intended, relatively cheap to manufacture, L

and will be possessed of a minimum number of parts to get out of order and thereby impair the operation thereof.

To the attainment of the above ends, the switch consists of a stationary contact memher and a movable contact member, the latter being movable through a series of steps or separate operations until it engages thestationary contact to complete an electric circuit. Means is provided for operating the movable contact member in accordance with a predetermined sequence of operations, and said movable contact operating means'may include elements capable of adjustment either to vary one or more of the individual steps of, or the entire sequence of operations of the movable contact operating means. The construction employed also includes means for holding or retaining the movable contact member in each of the positions to which it is moved providing of course, that the movable contact member is properly operated. If, however, the movable contact member be not properly operated at any stage of its shaft 17 thereis a hub member 21 which car operation, itis automatically returned to its initial starting position and it becomes necessary to proceed through the entire number of operations in the proper sequence before the movable contact member will reach circuit closing position. Means is also provided for opening the c-ircuitwhen closed by the switch by a single operation through the me dium of mechanism which is itself ineffective to move the movable contact member to closed position. v

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in whichi Figure 1 is a plan view of an electric switch constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is .a transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 2;

' Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the parts in a different position;

I Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; V

Figure 7 is a' detail sectional view taken on the'line 77 of Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view onthe line 8-8 of Figure 4.

In the herein illustrated .embodiment of v taken the invention, the device, comprises a housing- 10 having an open side adapted to be closed by a cover plate 11. which may be secured 8 thereto by suitable fastening means such as screws 12. The cover plate 11 has a window 'or sight opening 13, the purpose of'which will 'be hereinafter described.

Mounted centrally. of the housing 10 in bearings 14 and 15 in one wall of the housing and the cover plate respectively, there is a shaft 17. This shaft 17 has both reciprofcating and rotary movements in its bearingsl i and 15, and its outer end may be provided with a suitable operating element in the form of a knob or the like 18. As moreclearly illustrated in Figure 2', the shaft 17 has a screw threaded portion 20. Mounted on the 10 ries a dial plate 22 secured to the shaft 17 by pin 23. This shaft 17 also carries a plurality of cam members 24 and 24 of which in the present illustration, there are two. The

cam members may be secured in position upon the shaft 17 between the hub member 21 and a nut 25 carried by the'screw threaded portion 20 of said shaft.

Freely rotatable upon the shaft 17 and maintained in engagement with one of the walls of the housing 10 by means of a spring 26, there is a movable contact element 27. This movable contact element 27 has a contact projection 28, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The movable contact element 27 is adapted for movement in a step by step manner into engagement with a stationary contact element 29 to complete an electric circuit of which the movable contact element 27 forms one terminal, the stationary contact element 29 forming the other terminal. The movable contact element 27 is provided with a plurality of cam surfaces 30 and 31, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The wall of the housing 10 with which the movable contact element 27 engages, is provided with a series of recesses, and said conv tact element is provided with a spring pressed ball 32 adapted to successively engage these recesses to retain the movable contact element 27 inits variouspositions or steps of movement. As shown in Figure 4, these recesses are spaced unequal distances from one another and they are designated by the reference numerals 33 to 37 inclusive.

The dial plate 22 may be provided with a plurality of letters 38, certain of which are adapted to be brought singly in proper sequence opposite the sight window 13 in the cover plate 11 and it is to be understood that the cam members 24 and 24 will be so adj usted on the shaft with relation to the dial plate 22 as to be opposite one of the letters of said dial plate. The dial plate 22 is further provided with accircular series of openings 40, there being'one opposite each of the letters 38 and these openings areadapted to engage projecting stops 4l during reciprocatory operation of the shaft 17 to revent rotary movement of the shaft 17 and dial plate 22 during the reciprocatory operation Each of the cam members 24 and 24' is provided with a rightangular end extension 44 and 44 respectively, and each of these extensions isformed with a cam face 45. M

So far as described, the operation of the device is as.followsz In Figure 4, the parts are shown in their initial or normal ope n circuit position to;

which position they are always returned by the action of a coil spring 48 connected at one end as at 49 to the movable contact element 27, and'at its otherend to aground terminal 50, as more clearly shown in Figures 4 and 8. With the parts in the positionshown in tionary Figure 4, the knob 18 is rotated until the cam face 45 of the cam member 24 overlies the cam face 30 of the movable contact element 27. In this position, pressure applied endwise of the shaft 17 will reciprocate said shaft in its bearings, causin the cam face 45 of the cam member 24 to engage the cam face 30 and advance the cam member 27 one step. In its advance of one step, the spring pressed ball 32 carried by the movable contact element 27 will engage in the recess 34 to retain the movable contact element in its first adjusted step. After this has been done, pressure is released upon the shaft 17 and the cam member 24' is moved to a position where its cam face 45 will overlie the cam face 31 of the movable contact element 27 and upon application of pressure longitudinally of the shaft 17, the face 45 of the cam member 44 engages the cam face 31 of the movable contact element 27 and advances the contact element 27 to a point where the spring pressed ball 32 thereof will engage the recesses 35 in Fig ure 4. The space between the recesses 34 and 35 is greater than that between the recesses 33 and 34 or 35 and 36, and for this reason,

the throw of the cam surface 31 must be upon application of pressure longitudinally .'.1;:

of the shaft 17, the movable contact element 27 will be moved to a point where the spring pressed ball 32 will seat in the recess 36 and maintain the movable contact element 27 in its last adjusted position. After this opera- 2 tion, the cam member 24 is again positioned where its cam face 45 will overlie the cam face 31 and upon application of pressure longitudinally of the shaft, the movable contact element will be advanced to that point where 111 the spring pressed ball 32 will seat in the recess 37 and the contact projection 28 of the movable contact member will engage the stacontact member 29 to complete the circuit.

. During each of the foregoing steps of operation, the movable contact member 27 will operate against the tension of the spring 48. This spring 48 is of sufficient tension to return the contact member 27 to the initial position in which it is shown in Figure 4 if the ball 32 does not properly seat in one of the recesses 33 to 27. However, the engagement of the ball 32 in any of the recesses will be sufiicient to prevent operation of the movable contact memher 27 by the spring 48. During each of the foregoing reciprocating operations oftheshaft 17, openings 40 engage projections 41 to prevent rotary movement of the shaft 17 and thus preventing displacement of the cam'members relative to the cam seats of the movable contact element .27 during operation of said shaft in a longitudinal direction. I 7

By arranging the recesses 33 to 37 in such a manner that the spaces therebetween are of different lengths, and due to the difference in throw of the cam members 24eand 24, it will be obvious that a certain predetermined sequence of operation is established, and that unless the movable contact member 27 is properly operated instrict adherenceto'said sequence, it cannot be moved 'tocontact closing position, because if it is not'moved the proper distance from the ball 32 to properly seat inthe recesses '33'to 37, the spring 48 acts to return the several parts to the initial or starting position. I

r The proper sequence of operation is determined by a combination of letters with which the contact elements may register together with other letters corresponding to the steps of movement of the movable contact element and unless this combination of letters is 3 known and followed in exact sequence, a sucof the opening 61 to move the movable contact member so that the ball 32 disengages the recess 37 whereupon the spring 38 imme diately returns the several parts to the initial or starting position. As herein illustrated, the rod 60 is effective to move the movable contact element in one direction only and therefore cannot efi ect an operation of the movable contact element in the direction of the stationary contact element 29.

While in the present illustration, the projection's 41 have been shown as separate elements suitably secured to the inner face of the side wall of the housing 10, it may be convenient to stamp these projections directly from metal of which the housing is formed instead of forming them in the manner herein illustrated.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described, a mechanism in which the several features of this invention are embodied and ter contained in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: f

1. In an electrical switch, a stationary contact element,'a movable contact element, and means for intermittently advancing the movable contact element in steps of difierent magnitude into engagement with the stationary 75 contact element to complete an electric circuit. 1

2. Ina-n electrical switch, a stationary contact element, a movable contact element, ,means for intermittently advancing the mov- 3 able contact element in steps of different magnitude into circuit closing engagement with the stationary contact element, and resilient means for, returning said movable contact member to its: initial position.

3. In an electrical switch, a stationary contact element, a movable contact element, means for advancing said movable contact element through a plurality of successive steps into circuit closing engagement with 11 said stationary contact element, means for retaining said movable contact element in circuit closing position, means effecting the release of said movable contact element, and resilient means for moving said movable con- .9 .tact element to its initial position upon its release from said retaining means. 4.- In an electrical switch, a stationary contact element, a. movable contact element, means for advancing said movable contact element through aseries of individual movements of different magnitude into circuit closing engagement with said stationarycontact eleme'nt,;and means for retaining said movable contact element in the position 015. 4 each of said successive steps. r 5. A switch for electric circuits, comprising astationary contact element, a movable contactelement, means for advancing said movable contact element through a predetermined ;;1

number of steps of unequal length, means for retaining said movable contact element in each of the steps to which it isproperlyadvanced, and means for returning said movable contactelement to its initial position each 1 time it is improperly advanced'a step.

6. A switch for electric circuits comprising astationary contact element, a movable contact element, means for advancing said movable contact element through a plurality 013 .1 successive steps of different lengths in a predetermined sequence into circuit completing engagement with said. stationary contact element, means for retaining said movable contact element at the end of each step of movement when moved in proper sequence, and means for returning said movable contact element to initial position each time it is moved astep not in accordance with the predetermined sequence of operation.

v 7.-In an electric switch, a stationary conand means for operating said movable contact element, said means comprising a plurality of cam surfaces'upon the movable contact element, and a single means movable successively into operative engagement with said cam surfaces.

8. In an electric switch, a stationary contact element, a movable contact element movable in astepby step manner into circuit completing engagement with said stationary contact element, and means for operating said movable contact element, said means includin a luralit of cam surfaces of different length upon the movable contact element, whereby the different steps of movement of the movable contact element will vary in length, and means movable into operative engagement with said cam surfaces.

5). In an electric switch, a stationary contact element, a movable contact element movable in a step by step manner into circuit completing engagement with said stationary contact element, and means for operating said movable contact element, said means including a plurality of cam surfaces upon the movable contact element, means movable in one plane to position opposite said cam surfaces, and movable in a plane at right angles to said first mentioned plane into operative engagement with said cam surfaces, and means for preventing'movement of said'last mentioned means in the first mentioned plane of movementduring operation of the movable contact element.

10. In an electric switch, a stationary contact element, a movable contact element movable in a step by step manner into circuit coinpleting engagement with said stationary contact element, and means for operating'said movable contact element, said means including a plurality of cam surfaces upon the movable contact element, a'plurality of cam members movable into operative engagement with said cam surfaces, and means for operating said cam members. 7

. 11. In an electric switch, astat1onary conable contact element, said means including a v plurality of cam surfaces on the movable contact member, a plurality of cam members movably singly into operative engagement with said cam surfaces, means for operating said cam members, and means for determining the position of the cam members relative to the cam surfaces on the movable contact element.

13. In an electric switch, a stationary contact element, a movable contact element, mov- September, A. D. 1929.

, EMIL KAISER.

tact element, a movable contact element movable in a step 'bystep manner into circuit closing engagement with said stationary contact element, and means for operating said movable contact element, said means including a plurality of cam surfaces upon the movable contact element, a plurality of cam members movable singly into operative engagement with said cam surfaces, and means for operating said cam members. 7 12. In an electric switch, a stationary contact element, a movable contact element movable in a step by step manner into circuit closing engagement with said stationary contact element, and means for operating said mov- 

